LIBERAL STUDIES
Liberal Studies (B.A.)
Minor in Gender and Society
PK-3 Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Liberal Studies)
Liberal Studies (B.A.)
The Liberal Studies program is especially desirable for students who have more than one specialized interest. It provides a broad general education with knowledge in two major fields, designated as Major Sequences. Major Sequence options are: Biology/Physical Sciences, Business and related fields, Communications, Computer Science, English, Fine and Applied Arts, Gender and Society, Graphic Design, History, Humanities, Information Systems, Mathematics, Philosophy/Religious Studies/Theology, Politics, and Psychology/Sociology/Criminal Justice.
This program is especially appropriate for nontraditional students with full-time work experience and 30 to 75 transfer credits, who desire an efficient way to use these credits to complete a bachelor's degree.
The Liberal Studies program consists of three components: the Liberal Arts Core, the two Major Sequences, and the Liberal Studies Triad.
Upon completion of the program, a student is expected to have achieved the following:
- liberal learning, demonstrated by broad analytical skills, independent thought, empathetic judgment, and mature values; and
- applied learning, demonstrated by experience documented in a personal portfolio that may be shown to prospective employers.
The student must complete two Major Sequences for a total of 42 credits of coursework in these fields. A minimum of 15 credits is required in each field; a minimum of 6 credits in each field must be in courses numbered 300 or above. The student must complete a combined total of 18 credits in courses numbered 300 or above.
Many students who intend to continue in Marymount's Master of Education program often choose Liberal Studies for their undergraduate major. They are advised to select Major Sequences from Biology/Physical Sciences, English, Fine and Applied Arts, History, Mathematics, Politics, or Psychology. Such students are permitted at the discretion of the program advisor to substitute undergraduate courses in Education for LS 400 Liberal Studies Internship, since these students must complete a student-teaching experience at the graduate level.
Suggested degree plan
Year One
|
Fall
- EN 101 Composition I*
- ECO/POL/PSY/SOC 100 Introduction to the Social Sciences*
- Health elective*
- Mathematics elective*
- Elective
- SEM 101 Freshman Seminar
| Spring
- EN 102 Composition II*
- Science elective*
- Humanities (History) elective*
- Humanities elective*
- Humanities (Religious Studies/Theology) elective*
|
Year Two
|
Fall
- 2 First Major Sequence electives §**
- Second Major Sequence elective §**
- Social Sciences elective*
- Humanities (English Literature) elective*
| Spring
- First Major Sequence elective §**
- 2 Second Major Sequence electives §**
- Social Sciences elective*
- Humanities (Philosophy) elective*
|
Year Three
|
Fall
- LS 300 Liberal Studies Readings and Portfolio Development §
- 2 First Major Sequence 300/400-level electives §**
- Humanities elective*
- Social Sciences 300/400-level elective*
| Spring
- 2 First Major Sequence 300/400-level electives §**
- 2 Second Major Sequence 300/400-level electives §**
- Writing elective*
|
Year Four
|
Fall
- LS 400 Liberal Studies Internship §
- Humanities elective*
- 2 Second Major Sequence 300/400-level electives §**
| Spring
- LS 420 Senior Seminar §
- 4 electives*
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§ Requirement for the major
*See Liberal Arts Core requirements for details.
**Major Sequence electives are chosen from the options noted in the introduction of this major. Students will choose two different Major Sequences. |
Gender and Society sequence
Sequence Requirements
15-21 credits
- IS 200 Approaches to Gender and Society (to be taken before other courses in the sequence)
- Select 4-6 courses in a minimum of 3 academic disciplines from the following: AA 410 Clothing Selection and Behavior, COM 301 Intercultural Communication, EN 340 Major Women Writers, EN 360 American Multicultural Literature, PSY 210 Human Growth and Development, PSY 220 Social Psychology, PSY 250 Biological Bases of Behavior, PSY 321 Psychology of Gender, SOC 202 Social Problems, SOC 201 Cultural Anthropology, SOC 302 Marriage and the Family, SOC 303 Development of Social Thought. Courses selected for this sequence cannot be used to fulfill Liberal Arts Core requirements.
Humanities sequence
Sequence Requirements
15-21 credits
- HU 200 Focus on the Humanities (to be taken before other courses in the sequence)
- Select 4-6 courses in a minimum of 3 of the following academic disciplines: English, Fine Arts, History, Philosophy, and Theology and Religious Studies. Courses selected for this sequence cannot be used to fulfill Liberal Arts Core requirements.
Minor in Gender and Society
Minor Requirements
- IS 200 Approaches to Gender and Society
- 18 credits in 3 discipline areas from the courses listed for the Gender and Society sequence (see above)
PK-3 Teaching Licensure (B.A. in Liberal Studies)
This program allows students to complete a baccalaureate degree in Liberal Studies and also be licensed to teach levels PK-3. Students pursuing licensure in this manner complete all requirements necessary for Virginia licensure, including field experiences and student teaching.
Admission Requirements: Students in this program must seek admission to the teacher licensure program and apply for student teaching. See Education section for admission requirements and procedures.
Degree Planning: Students in this program must take courses specified in the degree plan to ensure fulfillment of state licensure requirements. See an Education advisor in the School of Education and Human Services for further information.
Suggested degree plan
Year One
|
Fall
- EN 101 Composition I*
- COM 101 Public Speaking, COM 204 Oral Interpretation, or
- COM 301 Intercultural Communication §
- PSY/SOC 100 Introduction to the Social Sciences*
- MA 121 Introduction to Mathematical Problem Solving*
- Health elective*
- SEM 101 Freshman Seminar
| Spring
- EN 102 Composition II*
- HI 203 European History, HI 210 History of the U.S. to 1877, or HI 211 History of the U.S. since 1877 §*
- MA 127 Geometry §
- PSY 210 Human Growth and Development*
- Science (Biology) elective*
|
Year Two
|
Fall
- EN 201-206 English literature course
- ECO 199 Principles of Macroeconomics*
- Mathematics 100+-level elective
- Humanities (Philosophy) elective *
- Information Systems elective
| Spring
- HI 203 European History, HI 210 History of the U.S. to 1877, or HI 211 History of the U.S. since 1877 §*
- POL 204 American Government §*
- ED 245E Exploring Teaching**
- 1 from the following: FA 121-122 Music History I or II, FA 201-202 History of Art I or II §*
- GEO 201 Introduction to Geography §
|
Year Three
|
Fall
- EN 351 Literature of Childhood and Adolescence §
- PSY 311 Early Childhood Development §
- ED 300 Reading, Writing, and Language Acquisition §**
- Science (Astronomy, Geology, Chemistry, or Physics) elective §
| Spring
- EN 301 The Writing Process: Theory and Practice*
- ED 310 Reading and the Language Arts §**
- ED 410 Teaching History and Social Studies §**
- PSY 260 Learning and Cognition §
- PSY 341 Psychology of Individuals with Exceptionalities*
|
Year Four
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Fall
- ED 400 Teaching Mathematics and Science**
- EN 360 Multicultural Literature §*
- HI 203 European History, HI 210 History of the U.S. to 1877, or HI 211 History of the U.S. since 1877 § *
- Humanities (History, English Literature, or Philosophy) elective*
- LS 420 Senior Seminar §
| Spring
- ED 460 Student Teaching §**
- ED 320 Assessing and Guiding Students in Early Childhood Settings §**
- Humanities (Theology/Religious Studies) elective*
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§ Requirement for the major
*See Liberal Arts Core requirements for details.
**All Education courses must be taken in sequence noted. |